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Welcome to Emmanuel !November 10, 2019

It is wonderful to worship with you today!

All are welcome regardless of your faith affiliation.

If you are a visitor worshiping with us today, we are

blessed by your presence. Please sign the guest book

in the Gathering Space, so we can keep in touch.

All parts of today’s worship service are printed in this

bulletin, including words for the songs. If you would

like to sing with music, books are provided in the

racks on the back of the seat in front of you. The song

or page number is provided for easy look up.

This is a service of Holy Communion. All God's

people are invited to the table by our Lord Jesus

Christ. You will find instructions for Holy

Communion later in the bulletin.

Assistive hearing devices are available in the

Gathering Space.

Restrooms are located in the hall off the Gathering

Space immediately to the left. Please see one of our

ushers for assistance.

Children age 3 and above are invited to participate in

Sunday’s Kids, a program providing age-appropriate

worship, education and activities. Follow the signs in

the gathering space to find the classroom.

Parents with children are welcome to use the

children’s activity bags, located by the entrance to the

Sanctuary. If needed, our nursery room is at the end

of the hall off the Gathering Space.

Please silence your phones, but feel free to post

pictures, videos, tweets or texts to social media. We

love using technology to share the Word of God!

Introduction to the Day

We worship on the first day of the week because our

Savior was raised on that day. Every Sunday is a little

Easter.

This Sunday feels more like Easter than many as the

appointed texts reflect the reality of the resurrection.

Live it up this Lord’s day.

Our God is the God of the living.

____________________________________

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him, bless his name.

(Psalm 100:4)

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THE SERVICE

PRELUDE

“Let All Things Now Living”

(Burkhardt and Hobby, arr)

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Please stand as you are able.

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THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,

the fountain of living water,

the rock who gave us birth,

our light and our salvation.

Amen.

Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are

clothed with God's mercy and forgiveness.

Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your

Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you

created the world, calling forth life in which you took

delight. Through the waters of the flood you delivered

Noah and his family.

Through the sea you led your people Israel

from slavery into freedom. At the river

your Son was baptized by John

and anointed with the Holy Spirit.

By water and your Word, you claim us as daughters

and sons, making us heirs of your promise and

servants of all.

We praise you for the gift of water that

sustains life, and above all we praise you for

the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. Shower

us with your Spirit,

and renew our lives

with your forgiveness, grace, and love.

To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ

our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and

forever.

Amen.

GATHERING SONG Dearest Jesus, at Your Word (520)

1 Dearest Jesus, at your word

we have come again to hear you;

let our thoughts and hearts be stirred

and in glowing faith be near you

as the promises here given

draw us wholly up to heaven.

2 All our knowledge, sense, and sight

lie in deepest darkness shrouded

till your Spirit breaks the night,

filling us with light unclouded.

All good thoughts and all good living

come but by your gracious giving.

3 Radiance of God's glory bright,

Light of light from God proceeding,

Jesus, send your blessed light;

help our hearing, speaking, heeding,

that our prayers and songs may please you,

as with grateful hearts we praise you.

4 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

praise to you and adoration!

Grant us what we need the most:

all your gospel's consolation

while we here on earth await you,

till in heav'n with praise we greet you.

GREETING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

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SONG OF PRAISE Come All You People (819)

1 Come, all you people,

come and praise the Most High;

come, all you people,

come and praise the Most High;

come, all you people,

come and praise the Most High;

come now and worship the Lord.

2 Come, all you people,

come and praise the Savior;

come, all you people,

come and praise the Savior;

come, all you people,

come and praise the Savior;

come now and worship the Lord.

3 Come, all you people,

come and praise the Spirit;

come, all you people,

come and praise the Spirit;

come, all you people,

come and praise the Spirit;

come now and worship the Lord.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

The Lord be with you.

And also, with you.

Let us pray.

O God, our eternal redeemer, by the presence of your

Spirit you renew and direct our hearts. Keep always

in our mind the end of all things and the day of

judgment. Inspire us for a holy life here, and bring us

to the joy of the resurrection, through Jesus Christ, our

Savior and Lord.

Amen.

Please be seated.

FIRST READING: Job 19:23-27a

A reading from Job.

“O that my words were written down!

O that they were inscribed in a book!

O that with an iron pen and with lead

they were engraved on a rock forever!

For I know that my Redeemer lives,

and that at the last he will stand upon the earth;

and after my skin has been thus destroyed,

then in my flesh I shall see God,

whom I shall see on my side,

and my eyes shall behold, and not another.”

Word of God, word of life.

Thanks be to God.

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PSALM: Psalm 17: 1-9

(Read responsively)

Hear a just cause, O LORD; give heed to my cry;

listen to my prayer,

which does not come from lying lips.

Let my vindication come forth from your

presence; let your eyes be fixed on justice.

Examine my heart, visit me by night, melt me down;

you will find no impurity in me.

I have not regarded what others do;

at the word of your lips

I have avoided the ways of the violent.

My footsteps hold fast to your well-worn path;

and my feet do not slip.

I call upon you, O God,

for you will answer me;

incline your ear to me and hear my words.

Show me your marvelous lovingkindness,

O Savior of those who take refuge

at your right hand

from those who rise against them.

Keep me as the apple of your eye;

hide me under the shadow of your wings,

from the wicked who assault me,

from my deadly enemies who surround me.

Amen.

SECOND READING: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

A reading from 2 Thessalonians.

As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our

being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers

and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or

alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as

though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord

is already here.

Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will

not come unless the rebellion comes first and the

lawless one is revealed, the one destined for

destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above

every so-called god or object of worship, so that he

takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself

to be God. Do you not remember that I told you these

things when I was still with you?

But we must always give thanks to God for you,

brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God

chose you as the first fruits for salvation through

sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the

truth. 14For this purpose he called you through our

proclamation of the good news, so that you may

obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast

to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by

word of mouth or by our letter.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our

Father, who loved us and through grace gave us

eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts

and strengthen them in every good work and word.

Word of God, word of life.

Thanks be to God.

Please stand as you are able

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GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil (509)

Please sing once before, and once following the

reading of the Gospel.

Lord, let my heart be good soil

open to the seed of your Word.

Lord, let my heart be good soil

where love can grow,

and peace is understood.

When my heart is hard,

break the stone away.

When my heart is cold,

warm it with the day.

When my heart is lost,

lead me on your way.

Lord, let my heart

Lord, let my heart

Lord, let my heart be good soil.

GOSPEL: Luke 20:27-38

The holy gospel according to Luke.

Glory to you, O Lord.

Some Sadducees, those who say there is no

resurrection, came to Jesus and asked him a question,

“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s

brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the

man shall marry the widow and raise up children

for his brother. Now there were seven brothers;

the first married and died childless; then the

second and the third married her, and so in the

same way all seven died childless. Finally, the

woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore,

whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had

married her.”

Jesus said to them,

“Those who belong to this age marry and are

given in marriage; but those who are considered

worthy of a place in that age and in the

resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are

given in marriage. Indeed, they cannot die

anymore, because they are like angels and are

children of God, being children of the

resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised

Moses himself showed, in the story about the

bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of

Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living;

for to him all of them are alive.”

The gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL RESPOSE Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil (512)

(words in previous column)

Please be seated

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SERMON

The Rev. John T. Heidgerd

At conclusion of the sermon, please stand as you are

able for the Hymn of the Day

HYMN OF THE DAY O Savior, Precious Savior (820)

1 O Savior, precious Savior,

whom yet unseen we love;

O name of might and favor,

all other names above:

we worship thee; we bless thee;

to thee alone we sing;

we praise thee and confess thee,

our holy Lord and King.

2 O bringer of salvation,

who wondrously hast wrought,

thyself the revelation

of love beyond our thought:

we worship thee; we bless thee;

to thee alone we sing;

we praise thee and confess thee,

our gracious Lord and King.

3 In thee all fullness dwelleth,

all grace and pow'r divine;

the glory that excelleth,

O Son of God, is thine.

We worship thee; we bless thee;

to thee alone we sing;

we praise thee and confess thee,

our glorious Lord and King.

4 Oh, grant the consummation

of this our song above,

in endless adoration

and everlasting love;

then shall we praise and bless thee

where perfect praises ring,

and evermore confess thee,

our Savior and our King!

THE APOSTLES CREED

Let us now profess our faith in the words of the

Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ,

God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.*

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge

the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

At the end of each petition, the minister will say

"Let us pray."

The congregation responds:

"Have mercy, O God."

SHARING OF THE PEACE

May the peace of the Lord be with you always.

And also, with you.

Let us now share a sign of God’s peace with each

other.

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OFFERING

Please be seated as we gather our offerings and

present them to God.

OFFERTORY

“Dance and Sing for the Lord Will Be With Us”

(H. Hopson)

Please stand as you are able.

OFFERING SONG

As the Grains of Wheat (465)

Refrain

As the grains of wheat once scattered on the hill

were gathered into one to become our bread;

so may all your people from all the ends of earth

be gathered into one in you.

1 As this cup of blessing is shared within our

midst, may we share the presence of your love.

Refrain

2 Let this be a foretaste of all that is to come

when all creation shares this feast with you.

Refrain

OFFERING PRAYER

Together, let us pray.

Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things.

Through your goodness you have blessed us

with these gifts: ourselves, our time, and our

possessions.

Use us, and what we have gathered, in

feeding the world with your love, through the

one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ,

our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

GREAT THANKSGIVING

(Spoken by pastor)

The Lord be with you.

And also, with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

PREFACE

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks and praise to you,

almighty and merciful God,

through our Savior Jesus Christ;

who on this day overcame death and the grave,

and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way

of everlasting life.

And so, with all the choirs of angels,

with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (473) (please sing)

Holy, holy holy,

My heart, my heart adores you.

My heart is glad to say the words

You are holy, God.

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THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE

We give you thanks, Father, through Jesus Christ,

your beloved Son, whom you sent to us to save and

redeem us and to proclaim to us your will.

He is your Word, inseparable from you, through

whom you created all things, and in whom

you take delight.

He took on our nature and our lot and was shown forth

as your Son, born of the Holy Spirit

and of the virgin Mary.

He is the one who, handed over to a death he freely

accepted, in order to destroy death, to break the bonds

of the evil one, to crush hell underfoot, to give light to

the righteous, to establish his covenant, and to show

forth the resurrection, taking bread and giving thanks

to you, said:

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

In the same way he took the cup, gave thanks, and

gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for

you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering, then, his death and resurrection,

we take this bread and cup, giving you thanks that you

have made us worthy to stand before you and to serve

you as your priestly people.

Send your Spirit upon these gifts of your church;

gather into one all who share this bread and wine;

fill us with your Holy Spirit to establish our faith in

truth, that we may praise and glorify you through your

Son Jesus Christ; through whom all glory and honor

are yours, almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in

your holy church, both now and forever.

Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to

pray.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come, thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those

who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory, forever and ever.

Amen.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

Come to the banquet. The feast is now ready.

Thanks be to God.

LAMB OF GOD (195)

(Please sing)

Lamb of God, you take away

the sin of the world;

Have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away

the sin of the world;

Have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away

the sin of the world;

Grant us peace.

Grant us peace.

Please be seated.

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DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION

All God's people are invited by our Lord Jesus

Christ to receive Holy Communion. We receive

these gifts of bread and wine, of Christ's body and

blood in faith, trusting that in this meal our Lord

comes to us, forgives our sins, renews us in faith and

leads us into new life.

Emmanuel’s tradition is that communion is

distributed continuously. After the sacraments are

consecrated, the ushers will direct those in the

congregation by row to proceed down the center

aisle toward the pastor or assisting minister who will

distribute the bread.

If you prefer gluten-free bread, please signal to the

pastor or assisting minister as you approach.

As you walk down the aisle on the left or right side,

there are tables on which there are trays holding

individual cups. If you wish to receive wine,

please take an empty cup with you prior to receiving

the bread. If you prefer grape juice, please take a

pre-filled cup as you pass.

After receiving the bread turn to the left or right

where an assistant will pour wine into the empty

cup. After you have consumed the bread and wine

(or juice), please return to your seat via the side

aisle, placing the empty cup in the receptacle

provided on your way to your seat.

If you do not wish to receive Holy Communion, you

are invited to come forward and receive a blessing.

Please come forward with your arms folded across

your chest in the form of the St. Andrew's cross. (X)

SONGS DURING COMMUNION

Now We Join in Celebration (462)

1 Now we join in celebration

at our Savior's invitation,

dressed no more in spirit somber,

clothed instead in joy and wonder;

for the Lord of all existence,

putting off divine transcendence,

stoops again in love to meet us,

with his very life to feed us.

2 Lord, as round this feast we gather,

fill our hearts with holy rapture!

For this bread and cup of blessing

are for us the sure possessing

of your loving deed on Calv'ry,

of your living self, our vict'ry,

pledge of your unfailing presence,

foretaste here of heav'nly gladness.

3 Lord, we share in this communion

as one fam'ly of God's children,

reconciled through you, our brother,

one in you with God our Father.

Give us grace to live for others,

serving all, both friends and strangers,

seeking justice, love, and mercy

till you come in final glory.

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Come, Let Us Eat (491)

1 Come, let us eat,

for now the feast is spread,

come, let us eat,

for now the feast is spread.

Our Lord's body let us take together,

our Lord's body let us take together.

2 Come, let us drink,

for now the wine is poured,

come, let us drink,

for now the wine is poured.

Jesus' blood poured let us drink together

Jesus' blood poured let us drink together.

3 In Jesus' presence

now we meet and rest,

in Jesus' presence

now we meet and rest.

In the presence of our Lord we gather,

in the presence of our Lord we gather.

4 Rise, then, to spread

abroad God's mighty word,

rise, then, to spread

abroad God's mighty word.

Jesus risen will bring in the kingdom,

Jesus risen will bring in the kingdom.

Please stand as you are able.

TABLE BLESSING

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ

strengthen you and keep you in his grace.

Amen.

POST-COMMUNION PRAYER

Together, let us pray.

O God, our life, our strength, our food, we give

you thanks for sustaining us with the body and

blood of your Son.

By your Holy Spirit, enliven us to be his body

in the world, that more and more we will give

you praise and serve your earth and its many

peoples, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and

Lord. Amen.

BLESSING

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy.

The Lord look upon you with favor and give you

peace.

Amen.

SENDING HYMN Let All Things Now Living (881)

1 Let all things now living

a song of thanksgiving

to God the creator triumphantly raise,

who fashioned and made us,

protected and stayed us,

who still guides us on to the end of our days.

God's banners are o'er us,

God's light goes before us,

a pillar of fire shining forth in the night,

till shadows have vanished

and darkness is banished,

as forward we travel from light into light.

2 God rules all the forces:

the stars in their courses

and sun in its orbit obediently shine;

the hills and the mountains,

the rivers and fountains,

the deeps of the ocean proclaim God divine.

We too should be voicing

our love and rejoicing;

with glad adoration a song let us raise

till all things now living

unite in thanksgiving:

"To God in the highest, hosanna and praise!"

DISMISSAL

Go in peace and thanksgiving to love and serve the

Lord.

Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE

“Dearest Jesus, At Your Word (M. Burkhardt)

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Today – Nov. 10,

Ministers: All God’s people gathered

Acolytes: Dylan Drissel, Jacob Gilbert

Assisting Minister: Julie Freed

Altar Guild: Pat Conard, Teresa Drissel, Deb McElwee

CD Delivery: Rich Landis

Communion Assts: Harry Seeley, Jane Vogel

Counters: Team 5: Melinda Ferrara & Bob Renner, Co-

Captains.

Greeters: Michelle and Cory Gilbert

Lector: Carole Darragh

Ushers: Team 2, John Wellington, Capt.

Next Week – Nov. 17

Ministers: All God’s people gathered

Acolytes: Cole Pifer, Abram Vasey

Assisting Minister: Brian Pifer

Altar Guild: TBD

CD Delivery: Brenda Nace

Communion Assts: Cindy Crouthamel, Deb McElwee

Counters: Team 5: Melinda Ferrara & Bob Renner, Co-

Captains.

Greeters: Gloria and Gerald Heckler

Lector: Teresa Drissel

Ushers: Team 3, Bill Morral, Captain

_________________________________________

Attendance for Sunday, November 3, 2019 – 100

From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2019 Augsburg Fortress.

All rights reserved.

Emmanuel Worships !

Join Us For Worship!

TODAY – Nov. 10 at 4 PM

And Every 2nd Sunday at 4 PM

“United in One Body”

NEW at Emmanuel First Friday

of Each Month

Next Meeting – December 6

A light supper will be available at 7 pm.

RSVPs are requested to mailto:info@kairoscommunities.org.

New Path is a faith community where people in recovery and the people who love them can worship God, explore spiritual practices for recovery, and find company on the journey.

Come as you are and experience God’s grace

and unconditional love.

Sponsored by Kairos Communities

For more information: Info@kairoscommunities.org

Facebook.com/Kairos

mailto:info@kairoscommunities.orgmailto:Info@kairoscommunities.org

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Emmanuel Worships!

Weekly Schedule

*Sundays at

11:30 AM

*Wednesdays at

7:30PM

Singers may come to either or both rehearsals. A

second rehearsal gives singers the option of coming

for extra work, or to make up for a missed session.

____________________________________

Weekly Schedule

Wednesdays at 6:30PM

You don’t need to know much

about music, just how to count!

__________________________________________

Joint Worship with our friends

at Zwingli UCC

Wednesday, November 27 – 7:00 PM

At Zwingli UCC

350 Wile Ave.

Souderton

“ W E G A T H E R T O G E T H E R T O A S K

T H E L O R D ’ S B L E S S I N G ”

Singing the Hymns of Faith “Let All Things Now Living” (ELW 881)

The lyrics to “Let All Things Now Living” were

written in 1925 by Katherine Kennecot Davis, and

set to the tune of “The Ash Grove”, a Welsh folk

song with roots dating back at least to the 17th

century. The melody was written for the harp and

became known to harpists outside Wales during the

18th and 19th centuries.

Katherine Davis is more well-known for composing

the famous Christmas song “The Little Drummer

Boy”. She was born in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1892,

composing her first piece of music at the age of 15.

After high school, she went to Wellesley College,

and taught there after being graduated. She then

studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris, France. From

1923 to 1930 she taught in Philadelphia at the Shady

Hill School. After a nervous breakdown in 1930 she

devoted her life to arranging, composing, and editing

music. Her 800 choral works and other pieces were

published by E.C. Schirmer of Boston.

The hymn was originally published by Schirmer as a

4-part choir anthem. She probably wrote the text

under the pen name “John Cowley”, one of her two

pseudonyms (with “C.R.W. Robertson), women

composers being rarely published at the time.

Each of the two stanzas of the hymn is in two

parts. The first stanza begins with a call to give

thanks to God the creator, protector, and guide. The

second half recounts God’s protecting care.

The second stanza begins by singing praise to God

for the beautiful order of creation and then closes by

calling us as part of “all things now living” to return

the joy of thanksgiving in praise to God.

Davis died in 1980, leaving all the proceeds and

royalties from her work to her alma mater, Wellesley

College to support musical instrument instruction.

Musical Notes from Deacon Ethel Geist,

Dir. of Music Ministries

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Sched u l e o f E v en t s Friday, Dec . 13 7 :00 PM

“ D e c k th e Ha l l s ”

C om e D e c o ra t e t h e C h ur ch f o r C hr i s tm as

S p e c i a l

C h r i s t m a s T r e a t s

Saturday, Dec . 14

8 :30 – 10 AM

F r e e C o mm u ni ty B r ea kf a s t

W i t h S a n t a C l a u s

a n d C h r i s t m a s C a r o l s

Sunday, Dec . 15 3 :00 PM

C hr i s tma s P a ge a n t

‘ T o H e ar th e A n g e l s S i n g”

T h e S o u d e r t o n

P r e m i e r e

Christmas Eve Dec . 24

7 : 0 0 PM

F a mi ly S e r v i c e

F e a tur i n g “ La s P o s a da s”

A n i n t e r a c t i v e

r e t e l l i n g

o f M a r y a n d J o s e p h ’ s

j o u r n e y t o B e t h l e h e m

Christmas Eve Dec . 24

9 : 0 0 PM

C a nd l e l i g h t

S e r v i c e

T r a d i t i o n a l L e s s o n s

a n d C h r i s t m a s C a r o l s

i n c l u d i n g

“ S i l e n t N i g h t ”

b y C a n d l e l i g h t

Christmas Day Dec . 25

1 0 : 0 0 AM

S e r v i c e o f H o l y

C om m un i o n

W e l c o m e

t h e C h r i s t C h i l d

o n C h r i s t m a s M o r n

T

Come Celebrate

Christmas

at Emma nuel

M a r k Y o u r C a l e n d a r s N o w !

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Emmanuel Nurtures !

_________________________________________

Coming Up Soon:

Wed. Nov. 20th

@ Noon

Location: Franconia Heritage

For information, and transportation needs,

contact: Gloria Heckler 215-799-2264

Join us for lunch, conversation and

fellowship every 3rd Wednesday

_______________________________

Next Meeting

November 18

@ 7:00 PM

November’s Book:

“The Gown”

by Jennifer Robson

Join the ladies of Emmanuel for fun conversation

and fellowship – and always a good read!

For information, e-mail Mary Anne Morral

morral@verizon.net

__________________________________________

Knitters and Crocheters !

“Come and gather

to make shawls for those

in need of comfort.”

Next Meeting:

December 1st @ 1PM

And every first Sunday of the month.

Instruction available for all who are interested.

__________________________________________

“A New Kind of Sunday School”

Last Week at Sunday’s Kids…

We learned how God sent people to protect Moses from being killed by Pharaoh. God is our protector too!

This week: God speaks to Moses from a burning bush.

Next week: God sends 10 plagues to convince Pharaoh to release the

Hebrews from slavery.

Have fun!

Form faith!

Make friends!

Sundays at 10AM

Don’t miss Sunday’s Kids !!!

mailto:morral@verizon.net

15

Emmanuel Nurtures !

TODAY– Nov.10th

Thrivent

Sunday at

Emmanuel

“Come and hear important information from our local Thrivent Representat ives .”

9:00 AM -Adult Forum on Stewardship

led by Thrivent Reps

10:00 AM – Worship and Sunday’s Kids

11:00 AM – Fellowship Time sponsored by

Thrivent.

11:30 AM – Charitable Giving Workshop

led by Thrivent Reps

Q: Are you a Thrivent Member?

Q: Did you know Thrivent grants up to $500 per year

per member, to churches for various projects?

That’s right. Thrivent Action Teams make it easy

for you to bring people together to make a positive

change in your community! When you see a need,

apply to lead a volunteer team—and bam! Once your

idea is approved, a Thrivent Action Kit is delivered

to your door. It is packed with everything you need

to make your project a success, even a $250 gift card

for “seed money”.

Many types of projects can qualify, but they must fit

the following three categories: fundraisers, service

projects, or educational events.

Members can sponsor 2 projects per year. For more

information, go online to Thrivent.com and Search for

ACTION TEAMS.

Join Us for the Souderton Premiere

At Emmanuel’s Annual Christmas

Children’s Worship and Pageant

Sing Christmas Songs

Hear the Christmas Story

Sing Happy Birthday to Jesus

Enjoy Christmas Treats

Casting Call !

Rehearsals Start November 23 at 10 AM

Pageant Casting Needs

Talent – Singing, Instrumental,

Dance, Poetry

Adults

and Children

Narrators Middle School + High School

Main Pageant Roles Children who are good readers and

speakers

Other Speaking Roles Children who can memorize short parts

Non-Speaking Roles Children of any age

Stage Crew and Support

Adults and Older Teens

Sign Ups start November 10 !

16

Emmanuel Nurtures !

Two Great Discussion

Groups Each Week !

Sundays

9:00 AM

“The Gospel for

Today”

Led by our own

Deacon Marlene

Natali

A great way to start

Sunday morning

and get more out of

the day’s theme.

Wednesdays

6:30 PM

“Making Sense of

The Christian Faith”

Led by

Fred Crouthamel

A multi-media led

discussion using

materials from the

ELCA’s Book of

Faith Initiative

Feel the power

of God’s Word revealed

though Scripture

and conversation.

“Apartment Needed”

A local woman has approached Pastor John

looking for an apartment. She currently lives

and works in Souderton and is looking for a

quiet place to make her home.

If you have an apartment to rent, or know

someone who does, please let Pastor John

know.

For our Homebound Members Doris Alderfer

William & Helen De Turk

Norma Detweiler

Mary & Bill Frank

Betty Frese

Rita Fritz

Louella Gehringer

John Kemmerer

Kitty Kramer

Jane Niemczyk

Kathryn Stover

Joseph Sykes

Faye Wetzel

Dorothy Wohlgemuth

Current addresses for our homebound are posted in the Gathering Space

For Health and Healing Members of Emmanuel

Roy Becker

Werner Buschmann

Anthony Campolei

Elaine Cash

Pat Conard

Dominick DeSalvo

Keira Drissel

Craig Kulp

Faye Landis

Kermit Schnable

Anita Sykes

Robert Ziegler

Friends of Emmanuel Donna Clemens (friend of Janel and Barry Gibson)

Dennis Beer (friend of the Kulps)

Jim Clark (friend of Caren and Doug Landis)

Luca Condo (friend of Ruth Miller)

Helen Freed (Craig Freed’s Mom)

Sabrina Haap (Ruth Miller’s Niece)

Donald Heller (Shirley’s Brother-in-law)

Dixie Kephart (Darlene’s Mother)

Marvin Krupp (Friend of Roy Becker

William Lewis (Anita Vogel’s Brother)

Ed Natali (David’s Brother)

Samir Nowar (friend of Pastor John)

Alicia Ranberg (Friend of the Crouthamels)

Stewart Schrauger (Julie Freed’s Brother)

Michael Smith (friend of Cheryl Starke)

Eric Sykes (Anita & Joe’s Son)

Pam Valenti (Lou Gehringer’s Sister)

Alexander & Sylvia Wagwicz (Friends of DeSalvos)

Suzanne Willauer (Ed Cash’s Sister)

Al Winters and Family (Friend of Werner Buschmann)

Chase Ziegler (Christman’s Great-Grandson)

While Away at School

David Henry Samantha Plinke Abby Steinly

In order to keep our Prayer List up to date, names will remain

for four weeks unless otherwise notified

17

Emmanuel Nurtures !

Thoughts on

God’s Word for

Today

Nov. 10, 2019

Let’s start by reading the Gospel lesson on page 5.

I don’t wanna be a Pharisee.

They are not fair-you-see.

I don’t wanna be a Sadducee.

They are so sad-you-see.

How many of you remember that little poem, or

something like it from your Sunday School days? It’s

what is known as a mnemonic device, a catchy tool to

help us remember important some facts.

With all the people Jesus encounters in the bible, it

can be hard to keep track. Pharisees, Sadducees,

Samaritans, Galileans and more. How do we tell them

apart? How do we keep it all straight?

It’s not always important, except in passages like this

one where we need to understand something about

Jesus’ audience to decode what Jesus is saying.

When Jesus speaks to the Pharisees, it is helpful to

know that they were a group of good religious people

but were so picky about following the rules, that they

often did harm to other people. The Pharisees were

not “fair-you-see” and Jesus often let them know it

with some hard talk!

The Sadducees were a different group of religious

people who did not believe in life after death. That

seems sad for we who believe in resurrection, so the

Sadducees were “sad-you-see”.

In today’s text, Jesus is speaking to the Sadducees, so

it’s important to know that the Sadducees do not

believe in life after death. Because of this, the

question they ask of Jesus is not an honest one. It

brings up an absurd situation designed to trick Jesus

and to mock the whole idea of life after death. Jesus,

of course is up to the task of responding.

The question the Sadducees ask is about marriage, and

to point to the absurdity of the after-life if we have to

figure out who is married to whom when death created

opportunities on earth for people to have multiple

marriages.

Now, I’ve had similar questions posed to me from

people with real concerns about what happens when

they die. In that case, it’s important to be careful in

how to respond because a person may be grieving and

looking to hear comforting words.

Jesus knows that the Sadducees are not asking him

honestly but to trap him. So, instead of providing a

comforting answer, Jesus responds with a rebuke that

sounds something like – “marriage is only important

in this life. It has no meaning in heaven”.

Now I know that sounds pretty harsh. Does Jesus

really mean that we won’t be reunited with our

spouses – or even our loved ones? Well- not exactly.

The Sadducees are not in need of comforting but are

in need of correcting. Jesus points out the flaw in their

question, by letting them know that what is law and

order on earth, is not the same in Heaven. Our new

life in heaven is incomparable to life on earth.

Jesus is not saying that we don’t reunite with loved

ones in the afterlife. But he is saying that worrying

about what happens after death is not nearly as

important as taking care of life today.

For a God that has dominion over death, life is the

only thing that matters. That’s why Jesus says:

“Now he is God not of the dead, but of the

living; for to him all of them are alive.”

Did you catch that? “For to God – all are alive”.

To God, no one is dead. We are all alive in Christ,

made new by the God who creates life, and who

renews life. Our God is truly a God of the living.

Jesus tells the Sadducees that they are thinking about

the wrong things – their question shows how far they

are from the point. Consumed by the matter of what

happens after death, they are looking past the truth

that God is a God of the living – a God of life.

And that’s the lesson of this story to us all. That is the

power of resurrection. That God raised Jesus from the

dead to defeat death – so that we would not be

consumed by the fear of death – but instead live

generously in the land of the living, because that is

where we’ll find our loving God.

18

Emmanuel Serves !

Sponsored by:

Emmanuel’s Men in Mission

Saturday, Dec. 14

8:30 – 10:00 AM

Did we say it’s F R E E !

Eggs, Pancakes, Sausage

Community and Conversation

Join us every 2nd Saturday!

Please bring your

Keystone Food Pantry Donations to

Church each week and place them on or

under the collection table

in the gathering space.

Members of Emmanuel’s “Men in

Mission” will transport them to Keystone

every 1 – 2 weeks.

Thank You!

Thank You to everyone who donated groceries and gift cards to make Thanksgiving

food bags.

Your gift makes a difference!

19

Emmanuel Reaches Out !

Pastor John joins

Advisory Board for

Salvation Army

Children’s Services.

Expanding our connections to the local community as

we make Christ Known through our outreach, Pastor

John has recently joined the advisory board for

Salvation Army Children’s Services, the area’s largest

Foster Care placement and adoption agency.

The recently formed board consists of local business

and community leaders who care about the needs of

children and support the agencies efforts to recruit

foster families and raise financial support.

In the coming weeks, you will be hearing more about

how Emmanuel can help this agency with its vital

work caring for children of our community.

_________________________________________

From “SEASON OF DOUBT”

ELCA Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

Living Lutheran – 11/1/19

When serving as parish pastor, I would sometimes be

asked if it was possible to be a faithful Christian and

also doubt – to be a disciple, and also question?

Parishioners would be hesitant to ask for fear that they

would face judgment. Somehow, we’ve gotten it into

our heads that doubt has no part of faith, that questions

are disloyal, and that anguish and even anger are an

offense to God.

We think of the heroes of the Bible, strong and

steadfast. We consider the lives of the saints and

martyrs as they stood resolute in the face of death.

Surely these heroes, saints and martyrs must be

models of faith. Our doubts and questions reveal how

short we have fallen.

When my family and I moved from Columbus to

Ashtabula, Ohio, we were able to find a house that had

a little bit of land, about a quarter of an acre. I could

mow the lawn of our Columbus house with a weed

whacker. Now I had room for a proper garden.

I had to break through the grass in the backyard to get

to the good dark earth. I felt like the Norwegian

pioneers from Giants in the Earth, and I probably had

enough sod squares to start a prairie sod house.

I laid out my garden according to a plan I saw

in Martha Stewart Living. Then I planted. Carrots

were just some of the seeds I sowed, envisioning a

bountiful harvest. I had pretty good luck that first

year: corn, potatoes, radishes, tomatoes and carrots.

Then winter came.

Ashtabula is in the snow belt. Before Lake Erie

freezes, storms can whip across the lake, pick up

moisture and dump snow when they hit land. We call

this lake-effect snow. Buffalo, N.Y., has been known

to get 7 feet of snow in a single storm. Ashtabula isn’t

far behind.

Snow and cold are fine in November and December.

Thanksgiving feasts, Advent anticipation and

Christmas joy make weather and long nights seem

cozy - “the close and holy darkness” that poet Dylan

Thomas describes in A Child’s Christmas in Wales.

The snow and cold are accepted grudgingly in January

and February, but by March we are so over it. We long

to see new life. We long to see green. I remember a

snowplow accidentally went too far and uncovered 3

feet of lawn. We just stared at it.

When the snow began to melt, I inspected the garden,

thinking about a new season and new growth. Then I

noticed the green tops of carrots – some had wintered

over. Through the snow, through the cold, through the

long nights, life had been happening. Without my

knowing it, without my doing anything about it, the

carrots made it through.

Doubt can seem like winter—long, cold, barren. It can

feel isolating and lonely. These are natural and true

experiences. What is not true is that doubt is the

absence of faith. Doubt is part of faith. We hear it in

Scripture. Jesus never shies away from it. A father

seeking healing for his son cried out, “I believe; help

my unbelief!” and Jesus healed the boy The risen

Christ appeared to his disciples and some disbelieved

for Still, Jesus sent them out to tell the good news.

Faith, like wintering-over carrots, still lives even in

our winters. God still acts and nurtures even when we

cannot. Doubt and questioning draw us into a deeper

relationship with God. God can take it, and God will

carry us through the winter.

20

Emmanuel Evangelical

Lutheran Church

Sunday Schedule

Bible Study/Discussion – 9AM

Worship and Sunday’s Kids – 10 AM

Fellowship Time – 11 AM

Contact Us:

69 W. Broad Street • Souderton, PA 18964

Church Telephone: 215-723-7514

Church Fax: 215-723-1846

Special Note on Office Hours:

While we are between office administrators,

if you need to contact the office or Pastor

John, please call one of the following:

Pastor John: 914-275-3106

Ashley Bromley 215-723-8981

*Ashley is the administrator at St. Paul’s Telford and is assisting us in the transition.

E-mail:

Emmanuel@emmanuellutheranchurch.net

On the Web:

www.emmanuellutheranchurch.net

Facebook.com/EmmanuelSouderton

Church Staff

Reverend John T. Heidgerd, Pastor

Mobile Phone: 914-275-3106

Email Address: jheidgerd@gmail.com

Dcn. Ethel Geist, Dir. of Music Ministries

Michael B. Geiger, Facilities Manager

Rev. Richard G. Miller, Jr., Pastor Emeritus

Marlene H. Natali, Parish Deacon

Here is What’s

Happening

@ Emmanuel

11/10 – 11/17

Thrivent Sunday at Emmanuel

Sun 9:00 AM Thrivent Bible Study

10:00 AM Worship

10:00 AM Sunday’s Kids

11:30 AM Thrivent Workshop

4:00 PM Rejoicing Spirits

Mon 5:30 PM Bushi Karate

7:00 PM Church Council

8:00 PM AA Group

Tue 5:30 PM Bushi Karate

7:30 PM AA Step Group

Wed 5:30 PM Bushi Karate

6:30 PM Bible Study/Discussion

6:30 PM Handbell Choir Rehearsal

7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal

Thu 5:30 PM Bushi Karate

Sat 9:00 AM Bushi Karate

Sun 9:00 AM Bible Study/Discussion

10:00 AM Worship

10:00 AM Sunday’s Kids

11:30 AM Choir Rehearsal

_______________________________________

Bulletin Sponsorships are

Still available.

Suggested Donation:

$15

http://www.emmanuellutheranchurch.net/